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BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning
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Subject: BS: March De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: Stilly River Sage Date: 28 Feb 09 - 12:45 PM The sun is farther up on the horizon, the days are longer, and the junk in the garage that I have to move to reach the mower all tell me that While you're at it, the most logical thing in the world is to de-clutter. I didn't look back to see for sure, but I think this month marks the anniversary of when Katlaughing started these accountability and de-clutter threads, so those interested in pacing themselves can take account and report back to a sympathetic audience (and by doing so, inspiring themselves and others to take on new or necessary tasks). Thank you, Kat! It really has been a good focus. There is a lot going on out there, for anyone just stumbling upon this thread and tracing back to the previous thread (there are others, often time there is a link from the old to the new). People are cleaning up houses to sell before moving, cleaning up houses to repair and restore, remodeling houses for new family members, and others are going through the process of weeding out after years of collecting, or from inheriting stuff from family members. When parents, grandparents, beloved great aunts and uncles die and leave you stuff, you respond to it emotionally at first. Learning to understand what you're feeling about those loved ones and their former possessions is an interesting process. Periodically I pull out one of Don Aslett's Decluttering books and quote from it. He's a genius, a philosopher who has watched and helped people figure out just why they have felt it necessary to keep things they don't have space for or true interest in. Why they spend money to store stuff they don't need, or can't remember they own. A year out, it seems like some of us should have finished this work by now. Are we going to spend a lifetime sorting through stuff instead of getting out there and living? Yes and no. To be honest, we should always keep track of what is around the house to avoid unnecessary buildup, but the reason it takes so long to get through the initial houseful of stuff is because we are out there living our lives, and we turn our attention back to this as we have time. We're pacing ourselves. I've commented many times that the environmental approach I apply to the process is to try to recycle if it is truly spent, or find new homes for usable stuff, and not simply send items to the landfill. Too much good stuff isn't reused or recycled out of laziness and complacency. I can't afford to give it away, but the tax benefits of donating usable items are one good reason for doing this. We also sell things on eBay, an interesting process. I wouldn't want to try to make a living on eBay, but there are some nice surprises along the way, and every time we hand a box over to the mail carrier, it is one less item to trip over in the house, going to someone who will use and enjoy it. March onward! ;-D SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: March De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: Stilly River Sage Date: 28 Feb 09 - 03:27 PM The kitchen is clean, the electric kettle has been de-cluttered of built-up lime (boil a cup of water and a big dollop of white vinegar, then rinse a couple of times), the counters are tidy, laundry is drying (soon I can go back to using the clothes line out back). There is a modest list of chores in the kitchen that I'll try to complete today. After Allegra, the sinuses are beginning to clear, but the juniper is in full-pollination mode right now. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: March De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: katlaughing Date: 28 Feb 09 - 04:54 PM A very nice start for this thread, Maggie. Thanks! I started an accountability thread in January of last year, but in the beginning, I deleted each post at the end of the month and we started over. I think I quit doing that in March and the first decluttering thread was either in March or April. Anyway, it has been fun, inspiring and taken on a life of its own in some ways. I find myself looking more critically at our home, assessing what might stay and what might need to go. I, too, am loath to send anything to the landfill. I'd much rather give it away, sell it, etc. I do think, at some point, I may burn some of my very old personal stuff...stuff that is worn out, but too special to just dump in a trash can and not worth anything to anyone I might give it to. Today has been a good one. I presented an idea to Rog this morning and he said "okay!" So, we went out in the backyard and loaded a bunch of glass into the recycling bin, flattened some boxes which had sat out and put them in the bin, too. Emptied some old flowerpots in the back and front yards. I always empty the potting soil into one of my garden patches to build up that soil. We also put away a few things which have been outside. Put up some boxes of my sisters' stuff in the driveway which the wind blew over and repositioned the tarps over the stuff. Swept the front steps and walk; trimmed down the old stocks on the yarrow which is sprouting. Then came inside. Rog stopped, but I pushed on (**bg**) and put away a bunch of cassette tapes which were piled on the jewellery table; sorted through stuff on my dresser and desk; put more stuff away, just little stuff here and there which had accumulated. The inside of the house still looks messy, but I think I've solved some of that. I have bins we've brought inside for me to go through for ebay and giveaway. They are blocking partial access to my house-plants in the pseudo-dining room. We will move a chair out of our bedroom to the DR and put them in the corner where it sits in front of some 78s already stored in there. That way they will be out of the way, easy for me to get to and not too far from the office. We never use the chair in the BR anyway. We might actually use it in the DR! I am now going to see what movies are on; ask Rog to make some popcorn and go settle down for a bit.:-) |
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Subject: RE: BS: March De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: Stilly River Sage Date: 28 Feb 09 - 09:05 PM I rearranged my closet, trading places between a wire drawer set (a K-Mart knock-off of elfa) and a shoe stand (I built a few years ago out of cedar fir strips--I saw a photo of one for sale in the In Flight catalog and I knew I could build it myself for less.) I can hang more long garments in the closet now. I went shopping at Ross a couple of days ago and picked up a two blouses and two pairs of pants to incorporate into my mix-and-match wardrobe. I like the thrift store, but the color selection is entirely random. I wanted a little more choice. Anyway, my closet is looking better all of the time. My list today has a lot crossed off. I'll go fold laundry and watch one of my NetFlix movies, and see about clearing out some of the clutter in my son's computer area. I need to make more room on the shelves over there for his school books (and he needs to use that space!) SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: March De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: MAG Date: 01 Mar 09 - 12:09 PM WEll today so far I'm totally lazy. (NPR puzzle answer: Dallas-Fort Worth.) Knocked over and broke a bottle of Worcestershire sauce which I've only partially cleaned up. Gotta get it before the glass is stuck in the dried goo. I'm trying to stack empty boxes together so they'll take up less room. My sick day turned out to be for real; my head is so stuffed I can't hear. And THANK YOU Max for being there. |
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Subject: RE: BS: March De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: Stilly River Sage Date: 01 Mar 09 - 02:30 PM My allergies are here full-tilt, and I'll try to keep them under control to avoid the sinus infection that sometimes comes along with them. It's very chilly again today, despite bright sunshine. I'm de-cluttering computer photo files. I've moved quite a few into more logical spots and I've tended to a large number of orphans, that slipped between folders and don't appear easily in some Windows Explorer views. I also rearranged my office a little, and for the time being I'm using a shorter data cable from the router to the wall for my son's computer so I can use the longer cable to the other work space for the laptop computer. (The short cable is kind of in the way of some shelves, so I'll get another long one to drape out of the way.) It's just too confusing to try to work on two computers in front of you--the keyboards and mouse of one simply don't operate the other, yet I am continually trying a few keystrokes before I realize my mistake. Now they're two separate work stations. The other one is mostly for secure connections to the campus servers and for transporting backups of very large files. I want to set it up so the files are easy (logical) to find in there. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: March De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: Stilly River Sage Date: 01 Mar 09 - 02:33 PM Kat, would you edit the thread title slightly--make it March-09 De-Clutter & Spring Cleaning, so if this series is still going next year, it's clear which is which? Thanks. |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: katlaughing Date: 01 Mar 09 - 02:55 PM Got it, Maggie, no problem. So far, this morning, I did a load of laundry and delivered a nice vintage tin with handmade, crocheted, antique lace lady's gloves inside to my pseudo-dau.in law as a belated gift. She took me out for a very nice luncheon and we had a blast. Still enjoying what we did yesterday...felt good to walk up the swept walkway and steps this morning. Rog has done the litter boxes and I still hope to get the bins and chair swapped out this afternoon, but first we are driving up Debeque Canyon to my ex's place to see it for the first time. He's got chipmunks, quails, and other wildlife, plus several dogs and cats, so I am looking forward to the ride and the visit. |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: mouldy Date: 01 Mar 09 - 04:43 PM So, I have had a bit of a lull after the removal of ivy from the garden walls. Luckily Peter has now brought the trailer and the last lot will be loaded into it very soon. I have had a massive bread and soup-making session over the last couple of days to provide enough for the visitors to a local open garden, which was on today. I have loads left, and so that's my meals for the next couple of days sorted! I am going away in just over a week, and will be abroad visiting Alex and Adebisi for a few weeks, and so I have a lot of loose ends to tie off this week. However, it would be nice to think that I could make a start on losing some of the kitchen contents (although by the look of it at the moment, you'd think the contents had already emptied themselves onto all the surfaces - they haven't!) There is also a mountain of ironing to do. If the weather holds fine I will feel more inclined to get busy. Andrea |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: LilyFestre Date: 01 Mar 09 - 04:54 PM Today I am working in my office which is a room in the house where I have teaching supplies (books, crafts, old textbooks, notes, etc) stored. Since I have given up teaching to stay home with our child (to be adopted fairly soon) for a few years, I have decided I do not need all this stuff out and about and cluttering up some much needed space. So....I have labeled boxes and am sorting the childrens books according to age appropriateness. I am saving out any books that are good for toddlers but the rest can be easily stored out of the way, packed up until needed. Last night, in the kitchen, I cleaned out beneath the kitchen sink which has developed an incredibly bad leak due to our hard water. We now have a water softener but the damage to the kitchen sink and surrounding cabinets is bad and they need to be replaced. So, like I said, I cleaned out the moldy, icky wet area under the sink (with a mask and gloves on thank you very much) and RidgePlucker ripped the countertops off and took out the affected cabinets. We have treated the wet areas, removed all mold and the floor is now drying. When that is complete, the new cabinets, sink and countertops will be put in place. Later this week a new kitchen floor will be put down as well. Until now, we've had pine floors which are nice but impossible to keep clean with all the nooks and crannies. Because of the baby, we have decided to go with some Pergo flooring that will be MUCH easier to keep clean. There are other BIG developments planned for our house this month but I'll share them as they happen. As you know, construction never goes according to plan and sometimes delays are just part of the deal. I will say that the nursery is now carpeted and painted, the only remaining details in there are the trim....easily finished in an afternoon. I'm most happy about that! It's back to work for me. This clearing out is work but it's almost addictive. Michelle |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: Liz the Squeak Date: 01 Mar 09 - 05:06 PM My mother in law has been getting into the spirit with a big declutter - which is now all in my front garden where it didn't quite make it to the tip when Manitas drove home from visiting her today! (In his defence, the local footie team were playing at home and traffic was a nightmare). Looks like I'll have a large load to add my loft gleanings to, when I go up there tomorrow morning... LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 01 Mar 09 - 05:38 PM Spring cleaning? Ice-clogged streets and freezing. I'll wait a couple more months or so. Actually I cleaned out three kitchen drawers. Some old kitchen stuff tossed out or into recycle so now there is room for the new gadgets that were laying on the cabinets and table. Maybe room for a few more purchases. Going to dump those German knives at Sally Ann and replace with Japanese blades from the local hamono ya. And I gave a bunch of cds to the kids and moved some lps to a closet shelf to make room for new ones. I am tired just thinking about it. Oh, well only 365(?) days to March 1, 2010. Maybe do some more then. |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: katlaughing Date: 01 Mar 09 - 06:58 PM LOL, Q! That's the spirit! |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: katlaughing Date: 01 Mar 09 - 07:13 PM HERE are a few pix of some of the country we drove past today. |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: Q (Frank Staplin) Date: 01 Mar 09 - 09:05 PM Looks like they could use an irrigation project there. That greyish stuff sandwiched between the brownish sandstones I think is volcanic ash and tuff (long time since I have been there). It is always weathering and always seems to be barren of plants where the region is arid, but has minerals needed by plants and is farmed in humid regions. |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: Stilly River Sage Date: 01 Mar 09 - 10:35 PM Michelle, I had the kitchen somewhat updated when I moved into this house, and put new counter-tops on the existing cabinets. The carpenter put in the sink (they cut the hole in the counter-top with a template that came in the box) but unfortunately, a carpenter also hooked up the plumbing. It was the oddest Rube Goldberg collection of bends and twists to get from the drain to the outlet, and it leaked onto the MDF flooring of that cabinet. It rotted out. I had a plumber come fix the sink (he looked at it, looked at me, I said "a carpenter put it in," a knowing look came over his face, and he took out half of the kinks and straightened the whole thing out.) That was in about 2004. I had to pull out the bits of moldy, rotted board, but I wasn't going to store anything in there until I had the bottom of the cupboard fixed. It happened that an English professor friend came through town on his way from Arizona to Virginia. He is also a halfway decent carpenter, and he measured and cut a new piece that we dropped into place. The next year when he came by he helped put up a big mirror in the bathroom. He hasn't been by for a while--maybe he's afraid I'll have him replace a roof or something next time! :) Meanwhile, in the present day, laundry is in, bread is rising, and the 89 cent bunch of onion sets are in place in the ground now. I figure I'll get at least 89 cents worth of onions out of them. I ran the soaker hose around the area and have run it for a while, but I really should set up a sprinkler to give it a good drenching. It's very dry now, fires in the region. I can smell the smoke when I walk outside, it's a complex smell, a mix of trees and grass. Straight grass fires smell a lot different than forest fires. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: maire-aine Date: 01 Mar 09 - 11:57 PM Haven't done much this weeking, but plan to get back in the de-cluttering harness on Monday. No snow here, but very cold-- 9F (-12C) overnight. |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: Stilly River Sage Date: 02 Mar 09 - 01:39 AM I finished (sort of) my first InDesign publication. It's an invitation, nothing big, but my gosh there's a lot to figure out about this software! I'll ask the guys at the print shop to help me make it look a little prettier. ;) My computer has a better array of photos in it now. And I've cleared out some of the extras on the memory card for the camera also. Time to call it a night. Good luck tomorrow, Maryanne. Looks like some mudcatters are going to have to get out the snow shovel in the morning. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: Liz the Squeak Date: 02 Mar 09 - 01:14 PM I de-cluttered some of the loft today... the Virgo in me wanted to sort all the Christmas lights out into the proper boxes but the lazy sod in me just wanted to throw them all in the crate until next December... I sorted. Thank heaven there are some chairs up there! So now I have two lots of shelves with stuff on them, rather than stuff all over the floor with 2 shelf units on top of it. I removed an old vaccuum cleaner, which is in the 'pile for the tip', sorted 5 boxes of Christmas decorations into 3, labelled them and stacked them up where they are easily seen (at least until needed in December) and made some room to walk around. There are 3 empty crates and a sandwich box has been reunited with its lid. A good day. LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: katlaughing Date: 02 Mar 09 - 03:34 PM Kewl, LtS! I trimmed some small limbs off of a small tree, this morning. One which has been rubbing against the car when I park. I am also going to prune the rose bush today. Scrubbed the bathroom and also did more laundry. More to come. |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: Stilly River Sage Date: 02 Mar 09 - 04:23 PM De-cluttering the checking account, paying bils. :-/ |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: katlaughing Date: 02 Mar 09 - 07:24 PM Got one glass bottle put up on ebay. Five more to go, sometime...maybe this evening.:-) |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: maire-aine Date: 02 Mar 09 - 08:52 PM Got 2 baskets of laundry folded & put away. One more load should finish all the dirty clothes. That really declutters my bedroom. Maryanne |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: MAG Date: 02 Mar 09 - 10:20 PM I have gathered almost everything I need for my taxes. I usually go to H&R Block; doing them is just too nerve-wracking for me. I know it makes me a wuss, but I just can't make myself do them. Plus it would take me many hours, compulsively going over and over it. She does usually save me enough to pay the fee, which isn't too terribly steep. And it gets filed electronically that way. I did computer shop today (day off). It's high time. and practice. band had 2 gigs this weekend so I don't feel too bad about not getting more done. I make about $10 an hour all told doing it, but I figure it keeps me from being out there consuming. and I would MUCH rather spend the time playing than doing my taxes ... |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: JennieG Date: 02 Mar 09 - 10:31 PM This morning I bought another large lidded plastic crate to store the rest of my dressmaking fabric - I ran out of crate room a while ago and some fabric is still in bags on the floor of my sewing room. Shame on me...... And before you ask, yes I do use it! Cheers JennieG |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: Stilly River Sage Date: 02 Mar 09 - 10:51 PM Fabric--I think there are several of us who know just how bulky and heavy it can be! MAG, what are you seeing that interests you in computers? I do my own taxes every year, and it usually takes me longer to get to it than it actually takes to do the taxes. I know this is the case. The amount that was overpaid is going to pay off the credit card bills. That will be a nice de-clutter of the file my bills usually wait in until the paycheck arrives. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: katlaughing Date: 02 Mar 09 - 11:19 PM MAG, when our taxes were much more complicated I always took them to H&R Block. I still would if I thought we'd get back enough to pay for it and still have some left over, but that doesn't look as though it will be the case this year. I got one more bottle listed. Started to list another and decided I'd better figure how old it is and how much it is worth. From what I am seeing, it may be fairly rare and bring a good price. I've emailed a nice-sounding BLM guy who, it seems, has bottle and bottle knowledge as a hobby and is willing to help identify them, not value, but at least age, etc. |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: mouldy Date: 03 Mar 09 - 04:11 AM The pile of ironing continues to grow. However, as I need to change my bedlinen, it will have to be attacked. I can't justify buying another set just because I am getting lazy! At least the trailer full of ivy will be out of the way tomorrow. The digital piano has arrived. Now I am awaiting a reply from EFDSS, otherwise I have got to try and sell the old one. Looks a bit pretentious with 2 of 'em in the living room! I shall miss the old one, because if nothing else, it's a pretty piece of furniture with abalone inlay and brass candle holders. Andrea |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: LilyFestre Date: 03 Mar 09 - 06:59 AM SRS...you crack me up...he hasn't been by for awhile..LOL!!! Today the new floor boards surrounding the sink are being put in and RidgePlucker is going to put the new sink and surrounding cabinetry in, as well as the kitchen sink. Perhaps the new countertops will go on today too...we'll see how the day goes. Meanwhile, I will be working in my office finishing up the boxing of things that are no longer being used. Michelle |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: MAG Date: 03 Mar 09 - 08:29 AM Oh, yeah, I did get some more plastic baskets (cheap ones) to put clutter in. They look a little better than putting stuff in cardboard boxes. Then I've still got the boxes. SRS, I went to a place across the state line, about 10 miles, and looked at what a complete new setup would cost me. Intel computer,loaded, 22 " monitor (flat), 3 years AVG, file transfer and setup thrown in, run about $1000. Plus new hookup through Quest, $60 modem and $14.95/mo for one year. I think I'll go that way. I'm a wuss, figuring out how to put components together and set it all up is beyond me. Oh, and he would put my old hard drive in the new 'puter, so I wouldn't have to reset my cookie here. I WOULD have to get a new email address but that would not be the end of the world. Tomorrow is payday, so I'll make up my mind soon. |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: Stilly River Sage Date: 03 Mar 09 - 10:27 AM Michelle, I have several friends with whom I share an interest in the "physical plants" of our homes--innovations and general improvements in the houses, xeriscape gardening, solar panels (I can't afford them, but I love the progress one friend is making as he installs them at their desert home), water management (I want to put in a cistern, I have a pump to pull water from the creek, and I want to build a system for gray water in the garden). Etc. It's nice to know that an advanced degree in English doesn't preclude an ability to understand all of this stuff! :) MAG, It isn't enough to have a modem these days, you should also consider putting in a router, even if you're the only computer on it. Otherwise it is a straight shot through the modem to your computer by any malicious hacker. The router has it's own IP address, different than your computer, and that's what phishers see, so it's a good barrier to help keep crud out of your computer (along with a good firewall). If you have a router you're set up for visitors with computers (you can get a combination wired/wireless router, they're most common these days) for about $70. Take a look at NewEgg.com for lots of reviews. Is the 22" monitor a wide one? Those are great if you're also using it for viewing movies (you can get downloads from NetFlix, for example, that you can watch on your computer). Splurge and get a backward upgrade to XP-Pro, avoid VISTA. It'll be a lot easier in the long run. Keep us posted on what you're finding on machines. I'm taking my first InDesign document over to the campus print shop this morning and will sit down with their software folks to go through and be sure I did it correctly and to see what they advise as any additional steps in putting documents together to send to them to print. It's not an easy program to learn, but I feel good about learning a new and very useful skill. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: katlaughing Date: 03 Mar 09 - 01:38 PM ^^^ ----E --E ---( ^^^^^ ---> ^^^^^^ %]%]%] ^^^^^^^^^ That's supposed to be the big stack of dirty dishes I washed this morning... ^ = stack ---E = salad & regular forks ----(= spoon ----> = knife (sharp point!) %]%]%] = coffee mugs:-< LOL! |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: Stilly River Sage Date: 03 Mar 09 - 04:58 PM Most of my silverware is in the bottom of the dishpan right now. I'll have to take care of all of those before fixing dinner this evening. It's a pretty day today, so of course I have to work, not garden. :-( SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: Stilly River Sage Date: 03 Mar 09 - 06:06 PM I forgot to mention that I cleared out another file drawer at work today, and put the photo packets in there that were in a box on top of another cabinet. I am still using that box, this time for containing newsletter and magazine overflow from a shelf that now looks tidy, and the box just looks like a neatly stacked box, back where it began. I'll sort through it soon and probably file or discard most of the publications in it. And get rid of the box. SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: Liz the Squeak Date: 03 Mar 09 - 06:36 PM I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I really realy REALLY love the Really Useful Boxes here... and there are lots of useful inserts you can get for them too. I especially like the one for rolls of wrapping paper... LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: GUEST,MAT at work Date: 03 Mar 09 - 08:56 PM SRS, the nice young man at the store recommended XP over VISTA; he doesn't like it. Their 22 " monitor was indeed a wide screen; being able to access entertainment is something I really really look forward to. (no TV) Good point about the router; I'll look into it. |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: katlaughing Date: 03 Mar 09 - 11:47 PM Forgot to say, Andrea, have a wonderful time with your grandbaby etc. in NZ!! |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: Stilly River Sage Date: 03 Mar 09 - 11:58 PM If he's willing to promote XP over VISTA, that's a really good sign in a sales clerk. Stick with this guy, and ask a bunch of questions about the things you know (or think) you want to do with this machine. There are still a number of machines that are set up for XP, and it plays nice with a lot more programs. Good luck! SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: Liz the Squeak Date: 04 Mar 09 - 02:37 AM Someone 'freecycled' the vacuum cleaner and the radio from the garden.. hope they got to it before the rain we had all day yesterday did much damage. We're decluttering desks at work now. Coming up to the end of the financial year and the end of the first quarter, and they want to move our desks around. Why do they always do it in March? LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: maeve Date: 04 Mar 09 - 06:20 PM I am wearing a nice new temporary cast on my left arm. Soon the doctor will tell me if I'm looking at a 6-week cast or surgery followed by a cast which I'm certain I'll be happy to deaccession. Amazing how much clearing out one can do one-handed. maeve |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: Stilly River Sage Date: 04 Mar 09 - 06:52 PM Did we miss a step in this? No one reported an injury or a broken arm as part of their de-cluttering strategy. What is the story? (I hope it doesn't hurt too much!) SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: katlaughing Date: 04 Mar 09 - 09:49 PM Can we send virtual autographs to put on it? {{{{{{{maeve}}}}}}} Hope it doesn't hurt too much! |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: maeve Date: 05 Mar 09 - 07:22 AM The story is simple: Sunday ice + fall + 1 hr drive home in snow (with magazine splint) + wait for roads to be passable = 2 bad days Tuesday doctor's appt + xray + referral + visit with bone doc + "nasty fracture may need surgery" = temporary cast Wednesday CT scan Thursday Waiting for verdict and typing poorly in the meantime Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming... |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: GUEST,LTS pretending to work Date: 05 Mar 09 - 08:18 AM Oh Maeve... sorry you had to spend the weekend in pain.. hope it settles down soon. Possibly another day in the loft tomorrow.. it's been a strange week where I've managed to work all my allotted hours in 3 days... so I can take tomorrow off or come into work and build up some hours.. my choice. I suspect bed will win. LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: Stilly River Sage Date: 05 Mar 09 - 10:06 AM Batgoddess had a broken arm last year, with the attendant surgery and long recovery period. Keep your work around the house to within a reasonable range for your injury to heal, but do keep moving so you don't stiffen up and gain weight from lack of exercise. A difficult balance to maintain. Maybe move one book at a time, and do a few lifts over your head of each volume with the good arm? (Did you see the movie Lady in the Water, in which one character builds up one side of his body?) Looks like work is calling today. Three days in a row on campus--that's unusual, but there are fires to put out. I wish my sinuses weren't quite so unruly, and driving on a bright day with a sinus headache is particularly unpleasant. It's allergy season and they need to be de-cluttered. Neti pot, here I come. . . SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: katlaughing Date: 05 Mar 09 - 11:16 PM I've been feeling badly because I haven't done much the past few days to declutter. ebay has been a bust so I have not been motivated to get much more listed. Late this afternoon, I finally got with it and dug out the jewellery table, again. It was buried by stuff we brought in from storage. I found places for almost all of it and the table is cleared and usable, again. Good thing, as I just found out I will have Morgan all day tomorrow as his dad starts back to work tomorrow. Yeah! |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: Stilly River Sage Date: 06 Mar 09 - 12:41 AM Kat, don't beat yourself up. That's an important aspect of this process. Get a good night's sleep, eat healthy, take your vitamins, get some exercise, and then think about listing stuff, or picking up or packing away. If you're not feeling good, eBay isn't going to make you feel better. Make a list and cross things off, but be sure you include the "regular" stuff like dishes and cooking or shopping. Let yourself see all you're doing. I haven't gotten anything listed on eBay for weeks, after The Crash. Now I'm breaking in a new computer (a laptop from work) and I had to drive over today to get the IT guy to put me back on the network after accidentally knocking it out. But I think this weekend I might get started again. I say that each weekend, and maybe this one I'll make it. maeve, I hope you're feeling better. Liz, how is the upstairs doing? MAG, are you snowed in? (It was 85 here today.) SRS |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: maeve Date: 06 Mar 09 - 02:28 AM Thanks for the kind thoughts. Making progress, No fear of me sitting still too long. So far I am finding out what I can do one-handed. Not sleeping much yet. One immediate challenge: still have a couple thousand bulbs needing potting up along with all the seeds to start for spring seedling sales, hanging baskets, and the veggie gardens. "I'll think about it tomorrow" maeve |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: Liz the Squeak Date: 06 Mar 09 - 03:29 AM Maeve, you could tape a dibber to your cast and make the holes for bulb planting... go back to the ER and ask them to incorporate a couple of gardening tools?! :D (Seriously, when a mate of mine had external metalwork holding a broken ankle together, he rigged a key holder and something to hold cutlery to it.. he could never carry his plate whilst using his crutches and not drop the cutlery) I'd help if I could... if my numbers come up on the £85million EuroLottery tonight, I'll be with you next week! Anyhoo... back to the loft.. yes, bed won over frosty walk to the station this morning, so later Manitas (who is suffering from Manflu and taking the day off again) and I will be off to Ikea to purchase a decent shelving system. That way, we'll actually be able to a) walk around the loft without falling base over apex over stuff and b) be able to see exactly what we have up there! LTS |
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Subject: RE: BS: March 2009 De-clutter & Spring Cleaning From: mouldy Date: 06 Mar 09 - 05:45 AM Full of good intentions, I woke at 7, then mooched about and got up after 10! However, today is the day to finish counting the charity boxes I do, and decimate the pile of ironing. I'm sure I will find lost tribes in there! Of course, half way through the day is a visit to the hairdresser with my daughter... I go away in 4 days, and I have to leave the house in some semblance of order. Andrea |
